Contest speeding ticket?
Contest speeding ticket?
i got a speeding ticket the other day going about 35-40 mph in evanston. the speed limit is 25 mph.
it happened at an intersection. i passed through a green light while the cop car was on the right waiting for a red light. as soon as i went by, he turned right and pulled me over. thing is, i've passed many cops at that speed and have never been pulled over and so many ppl drive at that speed with no problems. plus, my passport x50 didn't go off, so i don't think he clocked me with a radar gun.
the cop asked me why i was speeding, etc. and i denied everything. he still writes me a speeding ticket, so now i have to go to cook county circuit court.
my question is, what are my chances of pleading not guilty and winning? and should i plead not guilty? he never told me what speed he clocked me at and my radar detector didnt go off, so i'm thinking he doesn't have evidence i was speeding. he also didn't pace me, so he can't use that.
and seriously, i wasn't even speeding much. i mean, SO MANY ppl drive at 35-40. it'll be frustrating if i get convicted for this b%llsht
it happened at an intersection. i passed through a green light while the cop car was on the right waiting for a red light. as soon as i went by, he turned right and pulled me over. thing is, i've passed many cops at that speed and have never been pulled over and so many ppl drive at that speed with no problems. plus, my passport x50 didn't go off, so i don't think he clocked me with a radar gun.
the cop asked me why i was speeding, etc. and i denied everything. he still writes me a speeding ticket, so now i have to go to cook county circuit court.
my question is, what are my chances of pleading not guilty and winning? and should i plead not guilty? he never told me what speed he clocked me at and my radar detector didnt go off, so i'm thinking he doesn't have evidence i was speeding. he also didn't pace me, so he can't use that.
and seriously, i wasn't even speeding much. i mean, SO MANY ppl drive at 35-40. it'll be frustrating if i get convicted for this b%llsht
First and foremost I want to say i'm not a lawyer I just play one on tv 
. First thing is that yes you should plead not guilty to the speeding ticket and take it to court. There are so many things that can happen so that it is dismissed its impossible to name them all. By pleading not guilty the cop has to prove that you were speeding and that means providing some type of evidence that you were clocked at that speed for example a print out from the radar gun. Also if the ticketing officer doesn't show up to court for whatever reason your ticket is most likely to be dismissed.
I hate to say it but saying your radar detector didn't go off or that you didn't know the speed limit isn't going to be a valid defense in court. I know there are a lot of threads floating around here that have a lot of advice when it comes to these types of things. Good luck man and I hoped this helps you a little bit.
. First thing is that yes you should plead not guilty to the speeding ticket and take it to court. There are so many things that can happen so that it is dismissed its impossible to name them all. By pleading not guilty the cop has to prove that you were speeding and that means providing some type of evidence that you were clocked at that speed for example a print out from the radar gun. Also if the ticketing officer doesn't show up to court for whatever reason your ticket is most likely to be dismissed. I hate to say it but saying your radar detector didn't go off or that you didn't know the speed limit isn't going to be a valid defense in court. I know there are a lot of threads floating around here that have a lot of advice when it comes to these types of things. Good luck man and I hoped this helps you a little bit.
Evolving Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
When I've been ticketed in the past I've usually elected to do the traffic school and pay the ticket. Three months of supervision and its like the ticket never happened.
However it may be that the officer may or may not be able to present this or that to ensure the court that you were speeding, you yourself know that you were... some would suck it up and pay the ticket (and thereby maintain their integrity).
There's principal and precedent, sure, but if a day off work costs less than the ticket, go to court and take your chances. A lot of judges in the city will reduce fines down to $5 even (but be sure to bring much more to cover court costs).
I was stopped the other evening doing around 70 past a couple statey's on 90 who had just stopped another motorist and were walking back to their vehicles when I drove past them. A minute later one of them stops me for speeding as well. There's no way either one of them could've clocked me with anything, but what? Am I really planning on standing in front of a court with the intention of calling the officer a liar? Hardly.
Good luck though.
However it may be that the officer may or may not be able to present this or that to ensure the court that you were speeding, you yourself know that you were... some would suck it up and pay the ticket (and thereby maintain their integrity).
There's principal and precedent, sure, but if a day off work costs less than the ticket, go to court and take your chances. A lot of judges in the city will reduce fines down to $5 even (but be sure to bring much more to cover court costs).
I was stopped the other evening doing around 70 past a couple statey's on 90 who had just stopped another motorist and were walking back to their vehicles when I drove past them. A minute later one of them stops me for speeding as well. There's no way either one of them could've clocked me with anything, but what? Am I really planning on standing in front of a court with the intention of calling the officer a liar? Hardly.
Good luck though.
